Page 22 of Fire Dragon
A good hour before the flight, he walked the long line of traders each with packs stowed in massive piles on lesser dragons. Every shifter in the service of the caravan trade made good bucks. Most had families they supported extremely well on what they earned.
Thanks to a handful of dragons like himself, he had the power, skill and ability to get entire caravans across the difficult, wind-laden terrain safely. His essential power would spread out for miles behind the caravan and protect every dragon and their attendant loads from the treacherous winds of Dusane.
In addition to the transport of goods, there were also several dragons who worked the tourist trade. Each of these bore vessels that could carry up to eight people including a flight attendant. Dragons had always carried humans from one point to another though the mode of transport had changed significantly.
The current models were twenty feet long and nine feet in height, not including the support structure that rested on the dragon’s back. The apparatus was strapped in place with an intricate web of steel and nylon cables and bands. He’d been told the dragons barely felt the weight of the unit even when loaded with humans. But these dragons were Gantors, like his masseuse, Batya. They were the largest on the planet and known for strength and endurance.
He paused by one of the transport dragons curious as to why his carriage was empty. He was large and brown with quite a bit of earth dragon genetics in his blood, though mostly Gantor. Liam levitated forty feet in the air to meet him eye-to-eye then contacted the dragon telepathically.You’ve got a light load.
One female. Santos’s orders. Pay is good though and it’ll be some easy flying.
A bolt of fear shot through Liam.One female. It couldn’t be. Name?
Your battle partner, Emma Brier.
At almost the same moment, he heard Emma calling to him from below.
“Liam. I’m here.”
Glancing toward the lake end of the caravan there she was, moving on her quick, firm step, her thick, dark braiding bouncing as it always did. She wore her off-duty uniform, a snug, black one-piece suit that unfortunately did little to hide her curves. Dismay struck him in a heavy wave. What the hell?
“Hey.” She waved to him and smiled.
Though he lifted his hand in response, he wasn’t happy. Far from it. He shifted his gaze back to the Gantor.Easy ride.
Um, good luck.
He could sense the dragon was laughing at him. Was there anyone who didn’t know how much he disliked his latest battle assignment?
He dropped easily to the ground then walked in her direction. He spoke mind-to-mind.What the hell are you doing here, Emma? And why wasn’t I told?
Her eyes widened as her smile faded.What do you mean you weren’t told?
Suddenly, Santos appeared right next to him. The damn dragon could materialize at will, the only dragon he personally knew that had this power.
Startled, Liam flinched which served to turn up his anger another notch. “Why didn’t you tell me Emma was boarding?”
“This is why.” He gestured with a wave of his hand indicating Liam’s hostile posture.
Emma, who was within five feet of them, stopped in her tracks. She pursed her lips then stepped away saying she’d give them a couple of minutes. She didn’t wait for either of the men to refute her retreat but moved back down the line out of earshot.
“She’s something else, Liam.” Santos turned to watch Emma move in the direction of the lake. “She’s one of the most game riders I’ve ever seen. Wouldn’t you say so?”
“Yes.” The word sounded like a gunshot.
Liam repressed a sigh as his gaze followed her as well. She had a firm body enhanced by the black leather uniform with a tight waist. Her bottom was firm from all the running and working out. Her hips had what his mother would have described as a child-bearing breadth.
Typically male, he suddenly saw that same body naked and his hands squeezing her waist as he entered her from behind. His inner dragon started racing around inside him like he wanted to shift and fly after the woman.
He had to take a couple of deep breaths to calm down. He worked hard not to think of Emma as a woman.
Liam forced himself to focus on the issue at hand and pivoted slightly in Santos’s direction. “You should have warned me, Miguel. But more to the point, why is she going on this caravan run at all? In what possible way is she necessary?”
“It’s what I want and that should be enough, Liam.”
“Bullshit.”
At that, Miguel turned to face Liam. “You need an answer? Then here it is. I can sense what is required for the two of you to merge as a team, a real team. A trip south will help. But would you lose the fucking attitude? Emma is not the enemy here.”
